Apparatus and method to improve printer productivity

Abstract

A method for improving productivity of a printer with in-line finisher, which includes the steps of: a) storing a sequence of jobs; b) printing the first print job; c) transmitting the printed portions of the first print job to the productivity module; d) unloading the printed portions in sequence from the productivity module and performing a finishing operation on the printed first portion of the first print job; e) during the step d), printing a portion of the second print job; f) transmitting the printed portions of the second print job to the productivity module; g) initiating printing of a second portion of the first print job, concurrent with step d), h) unloading the next printed portions of the first job in sequence from the productivity module and performing a finishing operation on the printed portions of the second print job; and continuing these sequences for the next print job.

1. A printing system having a marking engine, for producing prints, and a finishing device operatively coupled with the marking engine, for performing a finishing operation on prints produced with the marking engine, wherein the marking engine experiences productivity losses due to a plurality of time intervals as a result of performance of the finishing device, said printing system comprising:
 (a) memory means for storing a plurality of print jobs comprising a first print job and one or more subsequent print jobs wherein each print job comprises a first set, one or more or no sequential subsequent sets, and a last set wherein any said print job may comprise said first set as being said last set in jobs where there are no sequential subsequent sets, and each set comprises one or more images; 
 (b) a productivity module having more than one storage bins for receiving and storing said first set and said sequential subsequent sets of said first print job and for simultaneously receiving and storing a first set and sequential subsequent sets of a second print job, said productivity module connected to the finishing device and operatively coupled with the marking engine; and 
 (c) a controller in communication with said memory and said marking engine for monitoring said plurality of print jobs and transmitting the first set and the sequential subsequent sets of said first print job to said productivity module for finishing and unloading; for calculating receipt times and output times associated for each set of said first print job thereby establishing if said productivity loss will be encountered and if said productivity loss will be encountered, preserving one or more of said more than one storage bins as open bins unavailable to receive additional said sequential subsequent sets from said first print job; directing the first set of the second print job to said one or more open bins for finishing and uploading after completion of said last set of said first print job. 
 
   
   
     2. The printing system of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting the first set and the sequential subsequent sets of said second print job to said productivity module for finishing and unloading; wherein said controller calculates receipt times and output times associated for each set of said second print job thereby establishing if said productivity loss will be encountered and if said productivity loss will be encountered, preserving one or more of said more than one storage bins as open bins unavailable to receive additional said sequential subsequent sets from said second print job; directing the first set of a sequential subsequent print job to said one or more open bins for finishing and uploading after completion of said last set of said second print job. 
   
   
     3. The printing system of  claim 2  further comprising terminating the printing process after the last set of a last print job of all said subsequent print job has been finished and uploaded from said productivity module.